The Energon Pub

There's no point in denying it, otherwise how did this section wind up here from it's former place at the top of the Official TF toys Forums? People got sick of it, one way or another. The more I see, the more I wonder how worthwhile any given item put out by these fan companies are given how much of it we're seeing and how jacked-up the prices are getting to be. Worse yet are the companies that are either re-treading old ground, or doing the same damn thing at the same damn time!

Third party stuff can be great, but I can't be the only one who thinks we've let things get a little overboard.

Uranus, GrindRod, Igear mini-bots, Warbot Assaulter, Maiden Japan, Function X, Steelcore, Headrobots Drone, IT Alicon, Hegemon, and the list goes on...Right now I got 3rd party mania and Im suffering from Hasbro fatigue. I agree with you on some products being overpriced. But what you see as them doing the same thing, I see as options. And with the endless array of 1980's and 1990's characters that need an updated version, I see oppurtunities slipping out of Hasbro's hands month after month.

Options are a plus, but for some things there simply has not yet been an option made for, and I think many companies overlook in favor of the more obscure or retreaded or just downright pointless.

For example: Where the hell is Blitzwing?

iGear is busy doing mini-bots, when Hasbro touched off on most of them in one form or another already

TFC is doing their own rendition of the aerialbots/superion, which Fansproject has already provided option for

And then there's the mass numbers of small, overpriced, and often superfluous add-ons made by practically every company

...but no Blitzwing from anyone?

Shadowstream wrote:Options are a plus, but for some things there simply has not yet been an option made for, and I think many companies overlook in favor of the more obscure or retreaded or just downright pointless.

For example: Where the hell is Blitzwing?

iGear is busy doing mini-bots, when Hasbro touched off on most of them in one form or another already

TFC is doing their own rendition of the aerialbots/superion, which Fansproject has already provided option for

And then there's the mass numbers of small, overpriced, and often superfluous add-ons made by practically every company

...but no Blitzwing from anyone?

So what your saying is that your pissed because Blitzwing hasn't been done yet? FP will make their own version of him soon enough

As for the Aerialbots, I've got the Energon set FP upgraded and they are no way near Classics worthy. Don't get me wrong, I like em, but not that much. TFC's Aerialbots are (so far) the single best, if expensive, option.

While Hasbro did some of the mini-bots they missed quite a few and some they did weren't good enough for many collectors.

The "options" you mention here are not "the more obscure or retreaded or just downright pointless", they are toys many collectors want. Apart from Blitzwing, what other toys do you want to see 3P companies do?

Shadowstream wrote:There's no point in denying it, otherwise how did this section wind up here from it's former place at the top of the Official TF toys Forums? People got sick of it, one way or another. The more I see, the more I wonder how worthwhile any given item put out by these fan companies are given how much of it we're seeing and how jacked-up the prices are getting to be. Worse yet are the companies that are either re-treading old ground, or doing the same damn thing at the same damn time!

Third party stuff can be great, but I can't be the only one who thinks we've let things get a little overboard.

You're asking why this forum is now here... Because, it's unofficial... It's something that has been discussed before and being an "official" discussion site, the 3rd party forums have been taken out of the main conversation threads.

I sort of agree with the OP. It has been a bit much lately, but the only inconvenience that causes me is that there's a ton more threads in here that I have to sort through to find the stuff I'm interested in.

It's great for those who are interested in those things though, but most of what's coming out lately 3P wise just doesn't appeal to me. That said, I'm glad the option is there because there are a few things I'm getting but there are still a ton of itches that the third party companies (nor Has/Tak) have scratched, but I'm sure they'll get around to it eventually.

It's definitely disappointing to see the price hikes, but dems' da breaks. These toys are way more popular than they used to be and so far the competition between these companies hasn't driven down prices. I guess early on the 3rd party companies had to ask themselves "Are people gonna buy these things?", now all they have to ask is "How much can we get away with charging?"

*sigh*

I'm not suffering from 3rd party fatigue. I love the 3rd party scene. If I had the money I'd buy ALL of the recently released products.

But I can't so I don't.

I agree with some of your gripes, though. The prices are a pain, and are even more so when you see companies blantantly up their prices in an obvious cash grab (thinking iGear here). And I also wish they'd get to certain characters. There's only a handful to get to before the entire TV show cast from Seasons1-the movie are done.

Blitzwing, The Dinobots, Sharkticons, Trailbreaker, Hoist, Skids, the Protectobots, Steeljaw, Ramhorn, and then you have optional non-toy TFs like Alpha Trion (and who wouldn't buy Alpha Trion?).

FP's Areialbots have aged badly, but they're done whereas the Dinos haven't been (save Grimlock).

I'm picky with my third party purchases, but no real 'fatigue' has set in for me. I love almost all I've gotten.

I'm a lot more sick and tired of HasTak.
They have been pumping out nothing but junk lately. Add in the last year's worth of FE nonsense, releasing video game characters as SDCC exclusives, and the other shenanigans they have pulled recently, and I'm just done with them.

The MP line is their saving grace for me, I just wish Hasbro would get their crap together and release in the US without the year+ delays.

The 3rd party scene is really the thing keeping me interested in TFs at the moment. And while sometimes pricey (but not really any more pricey than the MP stuff), they are actually making, and making available, the figures I want. I'd rather pay $100 for a figure I really want and will display forever than $15 for stuff that will end up in a storage box in a year, when something better replaces it.

In a perfect world I'd pay $15 for stuff I really wanted, but they are just not making it.

While the prices are high, these items are not being produced in the same quantity as official product, so the prices are going to be higher. That is simple economy of scale.

As for iGear's supposed "price gouging" it is simply NOT TRUE. At least not from iGear. I gear is charging $2 more per set than the last round, the etailers are jacking the prices on the more popular characters.

I'm happy with the release rates of stuff, I can keep up with the figs I want, without getting overwhelmed.

I LOVE a lot of the one off items, like Dr Wu's stuff, that recreate a particular look or single scene.

I don't see having choices of Devastators, Superions, Predakings, mini-bots or any of the others as an issue. I like choices. If I was happy with the official minibots, I would simply not buy the iGear ones. But I'm not. I wanted the minibots done up in scout size, and I'm getting my wish. I wanted combiners to be big and imposing and TFC is making them. So, as a TF collector, I'm about as happy as I can be.

How can you be fatigued? No one's making you work?

If you mean "Annoyed" or "ovewhelmed" then I'd say.. it's just toys.





3rd parties have opened the door for more items, more competition, and more quality.
Gone are the days of crappy KO's, now we have 100% original molds, with higher then retail quality plastics.


It's a gift.

rpetras wrote:*bunch of relevant opinions

I don't think I could've said it better myself. HasTak is at the moment not catering to my tastes and the quality of their product, as well as the choices they've made with case assortments, have turned me off even further. Their Grimlock is the first of their figures that really appeal since I have no idea how long ago.

Don't worry, the way the line-up may pan out for 2013, most of our wants maybe met(for g1 updates at least)!!!

but with some of the draconian prices it is overwhelming at times, so all we can do is just live within our means and a lot for what we can

Just give us Blitzwing, Abominus, Overload, Black Zarak!!!!

Mkall wrote:Their Grimlock is the first of their figures that really appeal since I have no idea how long ago.

I'm not even feelin' their Grimlock.

It looks like a big KO from the pics I've seen.

I'll buy it because I'm a Grimmy fan, and a moron, but there is no real love for it from me.

The only figs that have really sparked me in a while are the Prime Vehicons, and to a large degree Wheeljack.
They are all really nice, and the only figs in a while that work in both modes without caveats.

On the flip side, I'm JUICED for the MMC Predacons!
Sorry kids no college fund, daddy NEEDS a kick @$$ Predaking!

What's annoying me a bit is the timing on these items. A LOT is coming out all at once. Even from FP. And one of the only problems with FP is that supply never seems to meet demand. With someone like Perfect Effect, you can mull things over for quite a while before committing (I can still track down Rumble and Frenzy for reasonable prices). Even TFCs stuff never seems to run dry. With FP you either get that first run or you pay big prices afterwards ... even from online retailers!

Shadowstream wrote:There's no point in denying it, otherwise how did this section wind up here from it's former place at the top of the Official TF toys Forums? People got sick of it, one way or another.

The 3P section is here because of ONE person, "Seibertron"... that's it. His site, his decision alone... it does not reflect the opinions of the fanbase.

Shadowstream wrote:The more I see, the more I wonder how worthwhile any given item put out by these fan companies are given how much of it we're seeing and how jacked-up the prices are getting to be.

The prices are high when compared to US retail toys, but ALL imports are. 3P items aren't much pricier than Henkei releases and the aesthetics and quality are FAR beyond... so I think it's quite justified. Look at MP Lambor for instance... close to the same price as FP Warbot Assaulter, yet Assaulter is twice the figure Lambor is. Given that Lambor is an official release and likely a MUCH higher production, I'd say 3P prices are extremely competitive. Sure there's some smaller companies that aren't able to get their prices down that low... but I don't think it's a case of them "jacking" them up (with the exception of CrazyDevy perhaps).

Really simple... if it's not worth it to YOU, don't purchase it. However, don't assume that just because you don't want it and you're burnt out that there's "no point denying" that everyone else feels the same.

The only reason I can see anyone getting "fatigued" over it all is because (a)they're buying more than they can afford, or (b)they're buying stuff they don't really want.

I like choices especially when they cater to the fans. The fact that there are so many 3rd party companies and figures is a show that 3rd party toys are profitable to make. But I find it exhausting trying to keep track of everything.

I would be interested in a newsletter that focuses on 3rd party toys - who is who and what is what. I find it difficult to keep who is making what, where the toys are in the pipeline, and I would like to learn more about the companies. That way I can make more informed decisions.

For instance, I have difficulty determining whether or not to pre-order TFC Aerialbots. I like the look of them, but how about the quality? Will they be released in a box set? Will they be produced in large quantities so I have time to make a decision? Are any competitors planning to make a set? Will Fansproject ever create their own Aerialbots?